Chicken pho

The famous Vietnamese soup: a spiced, fragrant broth, rice noodles, chicken and plenty of fresh herbs. Comforting yet light, it makes a complete, aromatic dinner.

Prep: 20 min  |  Cooking: 30 min  |  Servings: 4  |  Difficulty: Medium

Calculated per serving from the Anses Ciqual 2025 values for each ingredient, based on the quantities in the list. Household measures (spoonfuls, pieces) use average weights. 177 kcal · 22 g protein · 12 g carbohydrate · 4 g fat

Ingredients

• 400 g chicken breast
• 200 g rice noodles
• 1 onion
• 1 piece of ginger
• 1 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bunch of coriander and mint

Method

1. Make the broth: water, charred onion and ginger, star anise, cinnamon and the chicken.
2. Simmer for 25 minutes, then remove and shred the chicken.
3. Cook the noodles and divide them between the bowls.
4. Pour in the broth and add the chicken, herbs and beansprouts.

Nutritional benefits

Pho is a light, comforting soup that works as a whole meal: the chicken provides lean protein, the rice noodles gluten-free carbohydrate, and the aromatic broth very few calories. Fresh herbs add vitamins and freshness. A complete, fragrant dinner that suits weight loss too.

Variations and substitutions

• With beef (traditional pho bo).
• Vegetarian: vegetable stock and tofu.
• With pak choi or spinach.
• Spicier: chilli, sriracha sauce, lime.

Storage and make-ahead

Keep the broth and noodles separate; the broth keeps for 3 days and freezes well.

💡 Good to know

Char the onion and ginger before putting them in the water: this gives pho broth its characteristic depth.

Related reading

Discover more high-protein recipes · weight-loss recipes · dairy-free recipes · gluten-free recipes.

Foods in this recipe: chicken breast · rice noodles · onion · ginger · star anise.

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